Review of: Toronto 114, Sonics 106

Well the Sonics did give a better effort than Friday’s blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers but it still resulted in a loss and let’s face it, the final 19 games aren’t going to get much better than this. The Sonics will be facing teams desperate to improve their playoff seed and look at Seattle as a must win just as the Raptors did Sunday.

Yeah, they let the Sonics get off to a fast start and actually lead by as many as 15 in the first half, but they made a statement to begin the second half and the Sonics had no response. They have been a horrible third-quarter team all season and Sunday afternoon at Air Canada Centre was no different. They played on their heels until finally deciding to make a run in the fourth quarter, but by then it was too late. The Sonics didn’t have enough experience and didn’t have a hot hand to ride to victory. They are an extremely young team and these are the growing pains that must be endured.

But you hope the Sonics sign a free agent or someone who can guide the younger players, take pressure off Kevin Durant and help this team win. That is the Sonics’ most important task this summer, finding a veteran and proven leader. Eventually Kevin Durant will be the leader of this team, but that’s years away. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony did not immediately come in and become leaders of their respective teams, they took time to assume that role, so Durant still needs guides and mentors, someone he respects who is still in their prime and can shoulder the scoring load.

Another lottery pick will enhance the team’s future, but the Sonics, wherever they play next season, desperately need someone for the present.

SONICS REPORT CARD

Jeff Green — Another very quiet game from the rookie, who seems to improve one game and disappear the next — C

Chris Wilcox — He would be better if he stopped complaining about non-foul calls after every missed shot. He did reach the free-throw line times and grabbed 10 boards — B

Johan Petro — Didn’t play much in the second half but finished with four points and six rebounds, Petro-type numbers when you don’t play him in long stretches — C+

Kevin Durant — Has to cut down on the turnovers (5 on Sunday) and become a better finisher. Still, he scored 20 points with six rebounds and three assists — B-

Earl Watson — One of those games where he seemed into at times and not into it in others. Hence the eight assists and four turnovers in 31 minutes — C+

Nick Collison — Another workmanlike effort with 12 points and eight rebounds but was not successful against Rasho Nesterovic defensively — B-

Damien Wilkins — Tallied 11 points and two rebounds off the bench and gave the Sonics a spark — B

Luke Ridnour — Nine assists in 17 minutes is vert good and he also followed up with two steals and just one turnover before leaving the game in the fourth quarter — B

Mickael Gelabale — Four points in nine minutes — INC

Francisco Elson — Seven minutes with one rebound and two assists — INC